Dr Niwanthi Rajapakse
Senior Lecturer in Biomed Sciences
School of Biomedical Sciences
+61 7 336 52402
Journal Articles
Wang, Bing H., Robert, Remy, Marques, Francine Z., Rajapakse, Niwanthi, Kiriazis, Helen, Mackay, Charles R. and Kaye, David M. (2024). Chemokine receptor CXCR7 antagonism ameliorates cardiac and renal fibrosis induced by mineralocorticoid excess. Scientific Reports, 14 (1) 26985, 1-13. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-75789-0
Albornoz, Eduardo A., Amarilla, Alberto A., Modhiran, Naphak, Parker, Sandra, Li, Xaria X., Wijesundara, Danushka K., Aguado, Julio, Zamora, Adriana Pliego, McMillan, Christopher L. D., Liang, Benjamin, Peng, Nias Y. G., Sng, Julian D. J., Saima, Fatema Tuj, Fung, Jenny N., Lee, John D., Paramitha, Devina, Parry, Rhys, Avumegah, Michael S., Isaacs, Ariel, Lo, Martin W., Miranda-Chacon, Zaray, Bradshaw, Daniella, Salinas-Rebolledo, Constanza, Rajapakse, Niwanthi W., Wolvetang, Ernst J., Munro, Trent P., Rojas-Fernandez, Alejandro, Young, Paul R., Stacey, Katryn J. ... Woodruff, Trent M. (2023). SARS-CoV-2 drives NLRP3 inflammasome activation in human microglia through spike protein. Molecular Psychiatry, 28 (7), 2878-2893. doi: 10.1038/s41380-022-01831-0
Nomura, Haru, Kuruppu, Sanjaya and Rajapakse, Niwanthi W. (2022). Stimulation of angiotensin converting enzyme 2: A novel treatment strategy for diabetic nephropathy. Frontiers in Physiology, 12 813012, 813012. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2021.813012
Tran, Shirley, Kuruppu, Sanjaya and Rajapakse, Niwanthi W. (2022). Chronic renin-angiotensin system activation induced neuroinflammation: common mechanisms underlying hypertension and dementia?. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 85 (3), 943-955. doi: 10.3233/JAD-215231
Giam, Beverly, Nomura, Haru, Kuruppu, Sanjaya, Chu, Po-Yin, Essid, Sumia, Kiriazis, Helen, Du, Xiao-Jun, Kaye, David M. and Rajapakse, Niwanthi W. (2020). Endothelial-specific overexpression of cationic amino acid transporter-1 prevents loss of kidney function in heart failure. Clinical Science, 134 (20), 2755-2769. doi: 10.1042/CS20200087
Rajapakse, Niwanthi W., Giam, Beverly, Kuruppu, Sanjaya, Head, Geoffrey A. and Kaye, David M. (2019). Impaired L-arginine-nitric oxide pathway contributes to the pathogenesis of resistant hypertension. Clinical Science, 133 (20), 2061-2067. doi: 10.1042/CS20190851
Giam, Beverly, Chu, Po-Yin, Kuruppu, Sanjaya, Smith, A. Ian, Horlock, Duncan, Murali, Aishwarya, Kiriazis, Helen, Du, Xiao-Jun, Kaye, David M. and Rajapakse, Niwanthi W. (2018). Serelaxin attenuates renal inflammation and fibrosis in a mouse model of dilated cardiomyopathy. Experimental Physiology, 103 (12), 1593-1602. doi: 10.1113/EP087189
Giam, Beverly, Kuruppu, Sanjaya, Chu, Po-Yin, Smith, A. Ian, Marques, Francine Z., Fiedler, April, Horlock, Duncan, Kiriazis, Helen, Du, Xiao-Jun, Kaye, David M. and Rajapakse, Niwanthi W. (2017). N-Acetylcysteine Attenuates the Development of Renal Fibrosis in Transgenic Mice with Dilated Cardiomyopathy. Scientific Reports, 7 (1) 17718, 1-12. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-17927-5
Marques, Francine Z., Nelson, Erin, Chu, Po-Yin, Horlock, Duncan, Fiedler, April, Ziemann, Mark, Tan, Jian K., Kuruppu, Sanjaya, Rajapakse, Niwanthi W., El-Osta, Assam, Mackay, Charles R. and Kaye, David M. (2017). High fibre diet and acetate supplementation change the gut microbiota and prevent the development of hypertension and heart failure in hypertensive mice. Circulation, 135 (10), 964-977. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.116.024545
Han, Han, Baumann, Kate, Casewell, Nicholas R., Ali, Syed A., Dobson, James, Koludarov, Ivan, Debono, Jordan, Cutmore, Scott C., Rajapakse, Niwanthi W., Jackson, Timothy N. W., Jones, Rob, Hodgson, Wayne C., Fry, Bryan G. and Kuruppu, Sanjaya (2017). The cardiovascular and neurotoxic effects of the venoms of six bony and cartilaginous fish species. Toxins, 9 (2) 67, 67. doi: 10.3390/toxins9020067
Kuruppu, Sanjaya, Rajapakse, Niwanthi W., Parkington, Helena C. and Smith, A. Ian (2017). The characteristics of astrocyte on Aβ clearance altered in Alzheimer’s disease were reversed by anti-inflammatory agent (+)-2-(1-hydroxyl-4-oxocyclohexyl) ethyl caffeate. American Journal of Translational Research, 9 (7), 3514-3516.
Kuruppu, Sanjaya, Rajapakse, Niwanthi W., Spicer, Alexander J., Parkington, Helena C. and Smith, A. Ian (2016). Stimulating the activity of amyloid-beta degrading enzymes: a novel approach for the therapeutic manipulation of amyloid-beta levels. Journal of Alzheimers Disease, 54 (3), 891-895. doi: 10.3233/JAD-160492
Giam, Beverly, Kaye, David M. and Rajapakse, Niwanthi W. (2016). Role of renal oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of the cardiorenal syndrome. Heart, Lung and Circulation, 25 (8), 874-880. doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2016.02.022
Rajapakse, Niwanthi W., Kuruppu, Sanjaya and Smith, A. Ian (2016). Letter by Rajapakse et al regarding article, "Combined angiotensin receptor antagonism and neprilysin inhibition". Circulation, 134 (3), E9-E10. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.116.023086
Debono, Jordan, Cochran, Chip, Kuruppu, Sanjaya, Nouwens, Amanda, Rajapakse, Niwanthi W., Kawasaki, Minami, Wood, Kelly, Dobson, James, Baumann, Kate, Jouiaei, Mahdokht, Jackson, Timothy N. W., Koludarov, Ivan, Low, Dolyce, Ali, Syed A., Smith, A. Ian, Barnes, Andrew and Fry, Bryan G. (2016). Canopy venom: proteomic comparison among new world arboreal pit-viper venoms. Toxins, 8 (7) 210, 210.1-210.19. doi: 10.3390/toxins8070210
Giam, Beverly, Kuruppu, Sanjaya, Head, Geoffrey A., Kaye, David M. and Rajapakse, Niwanthi W. (2016). Effects of dietary L-arginine on nitric oxide bioavailability in obese normotensive and obese hypertensive subjects. Nutrients, 8 (6) 364, 364. doi: 10.3390/nu8060364
Rajapakse, Niwanthi W., Head, Geoffrey A. and Kaye, David M. (2016). Say NO to obesity-related hypertension: role of the l-arginine-nitric oxide pathway. Hypertension, 67 (5), 813-819. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.116.06778
Giam, Beverly, Chu, Po-Yin, Kuruppu, Sanjaya, Smith, A. Ian, Horlock, Duncan, Kiriazis, Helen, Du, Xiao-Jun, Kaye, David M. and Rajapakse, Niwanthi W. (2016). N-acetylcysteine attenuates the development of cardiac fibrosis and remodeling in a mouse model of heart failure. Physiological Reports, 4 (7), 1-13. doi: 10.14814/phy2.12757
Smith, A. Ian, Rajapakse, Niwanthi W., Kleifeld, Oded, Lomonte, Bruno, Sikanyika, Nkumbu L., Spicer, Alexander J., Hodgson, Wayne C., Conroy, Paul J., Small, David H., Kaye, David M., Parkington, Helena C., Whisstock, James C. and Kuruppu, Sanjaya (2016). N-terminal domain of Bothrops asper Myotoxin II Enhances the Activity of Endothelin Converting Enzyme-1 and Neprilysin. Scientific Reports, 6 (1) 22413, 22413.1-22413.11. doi: 10.1038/srep22413
Venardos, Kylie M., Rajapakse, Niwanthi W., Williams, David, Hoe, Louise S., Peart, Jason N. and Kaye, David M. (2015). Cardio-protective effects of combined l-arginine and insulin: mechanism and therapeutic actions in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. European Journal of Pharmacology, 769, 64-70. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2015.09.046
Rajapakse, Niwanthi W., Nanayakkara, Shane and Kaye, David M. (2015). Pathogenesis and treatment of the cardiorenal syndrome: implications of L-arginine-nitric oxide pathway impairment. Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 154, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2015.05.011
Rajapakse, Niwanthi W., Karim, Florian, Evans, Roger G., Kaye, David M. and Head, Geoffrey A. (2015). Augmented endothelial-specific L-arginine transport blunts the contribution of the sympathetic nervous system to obesity induced hypertension in mice. Plos One, 10 (7) e0131424, e0131424. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0131424
Rajapakse, Niwanthi W., Johnston, Tamara, Kiriazis, Helen, Chin-Dusting, Jaye P., Du, Xiao-Jun and Kaye, David M. (2015). Augmented endothelial l-arginine transport ameliorates pressure-overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy. Experimental Physiology, 100 (7), 796-804. doi: 10.1113/EP085250
Rajapakse, Niwanthi W., Konstantinidis, George, Evans, Roger G., Nguyen-Huu, Thu-Phuc, Kaye, David M. and Head, Geoffrey A. (2014). Endothelial cationic amino acid transporter-1 overexpression blunts the effects of oxidative stress on pressor responses to behavioural stress in mice. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, 41 (12), 1031-1037. doi: 10.1111/1440-1681.12279
Kuruppu, Sanjaya, Rajapakse, Niwanthi W., Dunstan, Rhys A. and Smith, A. Ian (2014). Nitric oxide inhibits the production of soluble endothelin converting enzyme-1. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, 396 (1-2), 49-54. doi: 10.1007/s11010-014-2141-0
Rajapakse, N. W., Karim, F., Straznicky, N. E., Fernandez, S., Evans, R. G., Head, G. A. and Kaye, D. M. (2014). Augmented endothelial-specific L-arginine transport prevents obesity-induced hypertension. Acta Physiologica, 212 (1), 39-48. doi: 10.1111/apha.12344
Abdelkader, Amany, Ho, Julie, Ow, Connie P. C., Eppel, Gabriela A., Rajapakse, Niwanthi W., Schlaich, Markus P. and Evans, Roger G. (2014). Renal oxygenation in acute renal ischemia-reperfusion injury. American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology, 306 (9), F1026-F1038. doi: 10.1152/ajprenal.00281.2013
Kuruppu, Sanjaya, Rajapakse, Niwanthi W., Minond, Dmitriy and Smith, A. Ian (2014). Production of soluble Neprilysin by endothelial cells. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 446 (2), 423-427. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2014.01.158
Konstantinidis, G., Head, G. A., Evans, R. G., Nguyen-Huu, T. -P., Venardos, K., Croft, K. D., Mori, T. A., Kaye, D. M. and Rajapakse, N. W. (2014). Endothelial cationic amino acid transporter-1 overexpression can prevent oxidative stress and increases in arterial pressure in response to superoxide dismutase inhibition in mice. Acta Physiologica, 210 (4), 845-853. doi: 10.1111/apha.12215
Kuruppu, Sanjaya, Rajapakse, Niwanthi W. and Smith, A. Ian (2013). Endothelin-converting enzyme-1 inhibition and renoprotection in end-stage renal disease. Pflugers Archiv - European Journal of Physiology, 465 (7), 929-934. doi: 10.1007/s00424-013-1216-1
Rajapakse, Niwanthi W., Chong, Abigail L., Zhang, Wei-Zheng and Kaye, David M. (2013). Insulin-mediated activation of the L-arginine nitric oxide pathway in man, and its impairment in diabetes. Plos One, 8 (5) e61840, e61840. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0061840
Rajapakse, Niwanthi W. and Mattson, David L. (2013). Role of cellular L-arginine uptake and nitric oxide production on renal blood flow and arterial pressure regulation. Current Opinion in Nephrology and Hypertension, 22 (1), 45-50. doi: 10.1097/MNH.0b013e32835a6ff7
Rajapakse, N. W., Kuruppu, S., Hanchapola, I., Venardos, K., Mattson, D. L., Smith, A. I., Kaye, D. M. and Evans, R. G. (2012). Evidence that renal arginine transport is impaired in spontaneously hypertensive rats. American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology, 302 (12), F1554-F1562. doi: 10.1152/ajprenal.00084.2011
Rajapakse, N. W. and Mattson, D. L. (2011). Role of l-arginine uptake mechanisms in renal blood flow responses to angiotensin II in rats. Acta Physiologica, 203 (3), 391-400. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-1716.2011.02330.x
Evans, Roger G., Head, Geoffrey A., Eppel, Gabriela A., Burke, Sandra L. and Rajapakse, Niwanthi W. (2010). Angiotensin II and neurohumoral control of the renal medullary circulation. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, 37 (2), E58-E69. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1681.2009.05233.x
Rajapakse, Niwanthi W. and Mattson, David L. (2009). Role of l-arginine in nitric oxide production in health and hypertension. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, 36 (3), 249-255. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1681.2008.05123.x
Rajapakse, Niwanthi W., De Miguel, Carmen, Das, Satarupa and Mattson, David L. (2008). Exogenous L-arginine ameliorates angiotensin II-induced hypertension and renal damage in rats. Hypertension, 52 (6), 1084-1090. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.108.114298
Rajapakse, Niwanthi W., Eppel, Gabriela A., Widdop, Robert E. and Evans, Roger G. (2006). ANG II type 2 receptors and neural control of intrarenal blood flow. American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology, 291 (6), R1669-R1676. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00183.2006
Rajapakse, Niwanthi W., Sampson, Amanda K., Eppel, Gabriela A. and Evans, Roger G. (2005). Angiotensin II and nitric oxide in neural control of intrarenal blood flow. American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology, 289 (3 58-3), R745-R754. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00477.2004
Rajapakse, Niwanthi W., Flower, Rebecca L., Eppel, Gabriela A., Denton, Kate M., Malpas, Simon C. and Evans, Roger G. (2004). Prostaglandins and nitric oxide in regional kidney blood flow responses to renal nerve stimulation. Pflugers Archiv European Journal of Physiology, 449 (2), 143-149. doi: 10.1007/s00424-004-1320-3
Rajapakse, N. W., Roman, R. J., Falck, J. R., Oliver, J. J. and Evans, R. G. (2004). Erratum: Modulation of V1-receptor-mediated renal vasoconstriction by epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology (July 2004) 56 (R181-R187)). American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology, 287 (4 56-4), R1003-R1003. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00468.2004
Rajapakse, Niwanthi W., Roman, Richard J., Falck, John R., Oliver, Jeremy J. and Evans, Roger G. (2004). Modulation of V1-receptor-mediated renal vasoconstriction by epoxyeicosatrienoic acids. American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology, 287 (1 56-1), R181-R187. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00555.2002
Oliver, Jeremy J., Eppel, Gabriela A., Rajapakse, Niwanthi W. and Evans, Roger G. (2003). Lipoxygenase and cyclo-oxygenase products in the control of regional kidney blood flow in rabbits. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, 30 (11), 812-819. doi: 10.1046/j.1440-1681.2003.03916.x
Guild, Sarah-Jane, Eppel, Gabriela A., Malpas, Simon C., Rajapakse, Niwanthi W., Stewart, Alistair and Evans, Roger G. (2002). Regional responsiveness of renal perfusion to activation of the renal nerves. American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology, 283 (5 52-5), R1177-R1186. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00151.2002
Oliver, Jeremy J., Rajapakse, Niwanthi W. and Evans, Roger G. (2002). Effects of indomethacin on responses of regional kidney perfusion to vasoactive agents in rabbits. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, 29 (10), 873-879. doi: 10.1046/j.1440-1681.2002.03742.x
Rajapakse, Niwanthi W., Oliver, Jeremy J. and Evans, Roger G. (2002). Nitric oxide in responses of regional kidney blood flow to vasoactive agents in anesthetized rabbits. Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology, 40 (2), 210-219. doi: 10.1097/00005344-200208000-00006
Conference Papers
Tran, Shirley, Woodruff, Trent, Kumar, Vinod, Smith, A. Ian, Rajapakse, Niwanthi and Kuruppu, Sanjaya (2021). Stimulating the Activity of NEP and ACE2: A Unique Approach to Prevent Dementia. Experimental Biology Meeting EB 2021, Online, 27–30 April 2022. Hoboken, NJ United States: John Wiley & Sons. doi: 10.1096/fasebj.2021.35.s1.01628
Kuruppu, Sanjaya, Rajapakse, Niwanthi, Kleifeld, Oded, Small, David H., Whisstock, James and Smith, Alexander Ian (2016). N‐terminal domain of Bothrops asper Myotoxin II Enhances the Activity of Endothelin Converting Enzyme and Neprilysin. Experimental Biology 2016 Meeting, San Diego, CA United States, 1-5 April 2016. Hoboken, NJ United States: John Wiley & Sons. doi: 10.1096/fasebj.30.1_supplement.606.4
Rajapakse, Niwanthi, Giam, Beverly, Chu, Po‐Yin, Kiriazis, Helen, Du, Xiao‐Jun and Kaye, David M. (2016). N‐acetylcysteine reverses established cardiac and renal fibrosis in a mouse model of heart failure. Experimental Biology 2016 Meeting, San Diego, CA United States, 1-5 April 2016. Hoboken, NJ United States: John Wiley & Sons. doi: 10.1096/fasebj.30.1_supplement.735.4